Huddled in the living room, Cassie turns to Kinslee.
Cassie
How do you want to play this?
Kinslee
If they weren’t standing by the stairs…
Cassie
You think they’ll recognize us?
Kinslee
I think if we walk right up the stairs, they’ll say something.
Kinslee
I don’t see anyone else going up there.
Cassie
So how do we get up there?
Cassie
Back where we came in, I saw another stairwell. It was by the bathroom, out of sight.
Kinslee
Let’s go that way. I hope Peyton can handle this.
Cassie
This whole thing will be a disaster if we get caught.
The girls slip around the corner and reach the stairwell without being stopped.
Kinslee notices a door under the stairs.
Kinslee
Look at this — maybe they have a basement!
Cassie
That’s creepy. See if it’s open.
Kinslee
No. Locked. Honestly, I’m kinda glad. I don’t want to go down there.
Cassie
Yeah, but what if that’s Ethan’s room?
Kinslee
Do you really think we’re going to find his room?
Kinslee
What if they’re all locked?
Cassie
These are frat boys. They’re not going to lock their rooms when they throw a party in their own house.
Kinslee
Then why is this one locked?
Cassie
Maybe it’s storage.
Kinslee
Come on, let’s just hurry up and get this over with.
Peyton watches as Cassie and Kinslee disappear around the corner.
Her brother is coming towards her, so she makes a choice and walks over to Ethan.
She reaches him just as Mr. Stevens walks away.
Peyton
God, I hope this works.
Peyton
Hey, so what are you supposed to be?
Ethan stares down at the clothes he’s wearing.
Ethan
Someone who’s not dressed in a costume.
Peyton
Oh, so that’s what you went with? Someone who isn’t celebrating Halloween?
Peyton
You don’t look like you’re having fun.
Ethan
Another aspect of the costume.
Peyton
Do you live here? At the house?
Ethan narrows his eyes at her.
He takes a sip from his cup and sighs when he realizes that Peyton isn’t leaving.
Ethan
What’s your costume?
Peyton
Not on purpose. All the zombie nurse costumes were sold out.
Peyton
You’ll never know.
Ethan
So, you got a name?
Ethan blanches, and he takes a step back.
Peyton
What? You don’t like my name?
Ethan
No, you just…excuse me.
Peyton
Hey, where are you going?
Ethan slides past Peyton and heads for the stairs.
She whips out her phone and texts Cassie and Kinslee.
Peyton
Guys, he’s coming.
Cassie
Shit. We’re not even up the stairs.
Peyton
I told him my name was Ella. He freaked.
Kinslee
WHY? Why would you do that?
Peyton
I don’t know! I think I just wanted to see what he’d do!
Kinslee
Hey, we can see him walking down the hall from here. He just went into his room.
Peyton
Wait and see if he comes back out.
Kinslee
We’ll go in if he leaves.
Peyton
Okay, I’ll be down here when he does. I’m going to see if I can find Mr. Stevens again.
Cassie
It’s weird, right? Him being here?
Kinslee
Do you think he was here the night of the party? Last week?
Peyton
No clue. I don’t know if I can ask him.
Peyton
Cause he’s our teacher and it’s weird…
Peyton
I know I’m in a costume, but the idea of walking up to him and speaking like I’m a stranger is freaking me out.
Kinslee
Ethan’s back. He’s heading your way.
Peyton
Okay. I’ll watch for him. Go.
Cassie and Kinslee hurry down to Ethan’s room. They find the door unlocked and slip inside.
Cassie turns to Kinslee, whispering in the darkness.
Cassie
Ugh, I can’t see a thing. Where’s the light?
Kinslee
I don’t know, turn on your phone.
Cassie
This room is a mess.
Kinslee
It’s a guy’s room in a frat house — what do you expect?
Cassie
Um, not a biohazard? Here’s the light switch.
Kinslee
Wow, it’s even worse than I thought. How will we find anything in here?
Ava
You won’t, because you’re leaving. Right now.
Both girls spin around to find Ava lying on the bed, as if she just woke up.
Her eyes are red, and she’s wearing sweats and a t-shirt.
Kinslee
Ava! What are you doing here?
Ava
I think I have more of a right to ask you that question.
Cassie
Seriously — what’s going on? Really?
Cassie
We know Ethan was with Ella that night. What happened?
Ava
You don’t know anything.
Kinslee
Why are you acting like this?
Kinslee
You of all people would know that Ella didn’t overdose. She doesn’t even take aspirin!
Cassie
Did Ethan do something to her?
Cassie
Did he drug her and make it look like an accident?
Ava
Stop. You’ve got to stop asking questions.
Ava
Ella’s dead. There’s nothing that will bring her back.
Kinslee
You act like you don’t care. She was your sister!
Ava
I know that! Don’t you think I know?
Cassie
You know something. I think you know Ella didn’t commit suicide.
Ava
It doesn’t matter what Ella did or didn’t do. We have to move on.
Kinslee
Ava. You sound afraid. What’s going on?
Cassie
Did someone murder her?
Ava
You need to leave. Now.
Ava
Ethan didn’t do anything.
Kinslee
Then why did Mr. Stevens confront him at the funeral home?
Kinslee
He threatened him with the police. He said he had proof!
Cassie
Ella was in Ethan’s car, Ava. The police know it.
Ava
And they already questioned him and released him.
Kinslee
That doesn’t mean he’s innocent.
Cassie
There, in the corner. That’s the dress Ella was wearing.
Kinslee
It doesn’t matter. Ella had it on. I have a picture on my phone to prove it.
Cassie
I’m calling my Dad. Ella’s dress is here. Something happened to her.
Ava
Don’t! You don’t know what you’re doing!
Kinslee
Then tell us! What happened?
Ava
I can’t…you need to leave it alone.
Ava runs from the room, leaving Kinslee and Cassie alone.
Kinslee
Quick, look around for anything else that belongs to Ella.
Cassie
We could search for hours and I don’t think we’d find everything in here.
Kinslee
Then call your dad — just like you said you would. He needs to know that her dress is here.
Kinslee
Maybe there’s…DNA on it or something.
Cassie
It still doesn’t mean anything happened to her, though.
Cassie
They still think she overdosed at home after Ethan dropped her off.
Kinslee
But we know Ella! We know she would never have done this—
Kinslee
Something happened, and Ethan knows. So does Ava.
Cassie
I know. But what can we do? How do we prove it?
Cassie
We don’t even know WHAT happened.
Kinslee
Just call your dad. Tell him what we found and see what he says.
Cassie
Mr. Stevens said something about a camera. Do you see anything like that?
Kinslee
I mean…like what?
Kinslee
The only thing Ethan’s got on his desk is books and papers. Wait—
Kinslee
There’s also a stuffed animal on his dresser…
Cassie
Grab it. See if there’s something in there.
Kinslee
Are you kidding? Here, catch — since you’re the expert.
Cassie turns the stuffed animal over in her hands.
Cassie
Woah, hold on. There’s Velcro on the back—
Cassie
And something inside…oh my god.
Kinslee
Call your dad. Now.
Cassie
You think it’s enough?
Kinslee walks over to Ella’s dress lying on the floor, picks it up and shakes it.
Kinslee
Trust me, this is enough—
Cassie
Wait. What just fell out of Ella’s dress?
Both girls stare down at the syringe lying next to Kinslee’s feet.
Cassie
I’m calling my dad.
